The plastic -framed Lionel RS-3 can be surprisingly strong pullers;

[philo426]

I obtained this RS-3 when I  bought an inexpensive Construction Zone set in 2004.I painted it in NYC Lightning striped Livery and added a second motor to the truck mounted power units as well as a three position electronic E unit.Pulls an 11 unit train with no problems and requires very little voltage to do it ;very cool!    

[Flintlock76]

That's a great NYC paint job!  It looks just like the RS-3's that pulled commuter trains in northern New Jersey on the old West Shore Line, now CSX's River Subdivision.  

[philo426]

Thanks;First I primered it then painted it white Then I masked off the stripes and painted the gray,masked the gray and painted it black and when the paint dried I applied the decals and then   Airbrushed a coat of Future!

[fifedog]

Nicely done. 

I used to custom paint locomotives, and those lightning stripes were always murder to mask.

Lots of museums and holiday displays used the Lionel RS3's, because you could run them for hours with little bread-downs.

[philo426]

Yes sir!